How to Treat One Who is Sinning

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. (Galatians 6:1-4 ESV)

This passage was next in my chronological Bible reading. Yes, I know...either I am way ahead or I am way behind. I'll let you guess which it is.

This seemed to jump off the page today. What are we supposed to do when we see another Christian acting in a way that isn't becoming of a Christian? Maybe they have even offended us?

Are we to avoid them? Ignore them? Treat them as inferior because they don't stand up to our standards of conduct? The answer is none of the above.

We are told that if we are spiritual, we are to try to restore that person in a spirit of gentleness, while at the same time watching ourselves that we do not fall into the same temptation.

I don't know about you, but this makes me quake in my boots. I wonder if I am qualified for this task!? It makes me think twice. What areas of my actions and life are perhaps not what they should be?

Can I go confront another church member about their attitude toward someone if my attitude toward them is not what it should be? I would be pointing fingers at them for the very thing I am guilty of! Goodness! This is convicting!

Something else I've come to realize is the power of bitterness and holding a grudge. It can poison a whole congregation if one does not keep their attitude in check. I have seen whole churches split apart due to bitterness spreading from one person to another as one shares their frustration about another or about the pastor and others take up the offense. It is like a cancer in the church that ravages the body.

We all need to be very careful to keep our attitudes in submission to God and if we are able to control ourselves, and see someone who needs to be corrected, do it in a spirit of gentleness and leave the outcome to God. He is faithful and will do what He deems best.